The BBC has been forced to apologise after one of its senior presenters suggested the women's Wimbledon champion was "never going to be a looker".

John Inverdale made the disparaging remark on the broadcaster's Radio 5 live programme shortly after French player Marion Bartoli defeated Germany's Sabine Lisicki on Centre Court.

Bartoli, 28, sank to her knees after she clinched the title and then made a beeline for the player's box where she embraced her father and former coach, Walter.

Bartoli dominated the women's final

But Inverdale sparked a backlash when he told listeners: "Do you think Bartoli's dad told her when she was little, 'you're never going to be a looker, you'll never be a Sharapova, so you have to be scrappy and fight?"

I'm not very politically correct (!) but really John?! BBC sorry for John Inverdale's 'Bartoli not a looker’ comment http://t.co/U0DkOGtMWO